Does your dog have dry skin? If your dog constantly scratches, licks, or even bites his skin, or if you find skin flakes on his coat, this means your dog is suffering from dry skin! Many dogs suffer from dry skin, and if left untreated, this condition can lead to a very miserable dog and further problems, such as skin infections.
Luckily, you can relieve your dog of dry skin with a few simple learnings. Hsviko will share effective home remedies for dry skin relief for dogs with dry skin!
Before we learn how to moisturize your dog’s skin, let’s understand its structure!
Dogs have similar skin structures to humans, but theirs are thinner and more susceptible to the elements. They also have more skin glands, which means they are more likely to have skin problems.
Dry Skin in Dogs
Dry skin in dogs can be affected by a number of factors, including environmental conditions, poor nutrition, skin diseases or parasitic infections. Not all dry skin presents with the same symptoms.
Symptoms of Dry Skin in Dogs
Symptoms of dry skin vary by age and breed of dog. A few common common signs of dry skin in dogs are listed below:
Itchiness: Itchiness is one of the most common symptoms. Dry skin can make your dog uncomfortable, and frequent scratching, licking, and biting of the skin can lead to trauma and secondary infections.
Dandruff: Dry skin in dogs tends to produce a lot of white or grey flakes, especially on the shoulders, back and other areas.
Flaking: When a dog’s skin is dry, the surface will begin to flake off, which may be noticed during grooming.
Pimples: Acne is less common, but skin problems can sometimes lead to clogged hair follicles and the formation of small red swellings or bumps.
Scabs: Excessive scratching or inflammation of the dog’s skin may cause wounds to scab over, a sign that the skin is trying to heal.
Hair loss: Chronic skin problems can lead to hair loss, especially in areas where the dog scratches frequently or is severely infected.
Inflammation: The skin may show redness, which is a sign of an inflammatory response, indicating that your dog’s skin is being irritated or infected.
Odor: Dogs with skin infections or excessive oil production may experience changes in body odour, especially around the ears and between the paws.
Increased Oiliness: Sometimes, the skin overproduces oil to compensate for the dryness, resulting in some areas being unusually oily, which again may be accompanied by an odour.
Reasons for Dry Skin in Dogs of Different Ages
Puppies
Puppies have an underdeveloped skin barrier, which makes them more susceptible to the effects of the environment. Dry climates or incorrect cleansing treatments can lead to dry skin in puppies.
Excessive bathing or the use of adult dog wash products may strip your puppy’s skin of its natural oils more quickly, exacerbating the dryness.
Inadequate nutrition is also an essential factor; puppies grow and need adequate nutrition to support skin health.
Adult Dogs
Dry skin in adult dogs is more related to dietary habits, environmental factors and parasitic infections.
Chronically feeding your dog a nutritionally unbalanced diet, especially lacking in essential fatty acids, can lead to dry skin and a dull coat.
Adult dogs may develop skin problems due to seasonal changes (e.g., dry winters) or frequent exposure to chemicals (e.g., lawn dewormers).
Endocrine disorders or chronic diseases may also begin to manifest at this stage, affecting skin health.
Older Dogs
As older dogs’ metabolisms begin to slow down, their skin may become thinner, produce less natural oil, and be more prone to dryness and flaking.
Older dogs may develop geriatric skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, which results in oily and dry skin.
Older dogs may also have reduced self-cleaning behaviours due to issues such as arthritis, making certain areas more susceptible to dryness or infection.
Some older dogs may develop hyperpigmentation, forming dark spots, and while this is not usually associated with dry skin, it does require attention to the overall health of their skin.
How Do You Moisturize a Dog With Dry Skin?
Balanced Dietary Intake
Optimal skin and coat health is achieved from the outside in, and a balanced diet is the cornerstone of skin health. It is essential to check your dog’s diet before trying other treatments.
For good health, your dog needs a complete and balanced diet that includes nutrients such as proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals.
Foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, such as fish oil and flaxseed oil, can significantly improve dry skin and enhance coat shine. Also, making sure your dog has adequate water intake is a simple but effective way to maintain hydrated skin. Consider consulting your veterinarian about the need to add specific dog skin and coat supplements to meet individual needs.
Proper Bathing and Bathing Gel Selection
Another critical factor in keeping your dog’s skin healthy is proper cleansing. Use a gentle shampoo designed for dogs to avoid the chemicals in human products that can damage the natural protective layer of their skin.
Also, give your dog one sparingly; 1-2 times a month is sufficient. Avoid bathing your dog too much, as this removes too much of its natural oils and leads to dry skin.
Coconut Oil
In addition to diet and cleaning, nature’s bounty should be noticed. Some pet owners also often use coconut oil to moisturize their dogs’ skin. Applying coconut oil topically to your dog’s skin can relieve dryness and irritation, moisturize it, and promote healing.
Humidifier
Like humans, environmental humidity is a critical factor in dry dog skin. During the dry season, use a humidifier to maintain proper indoor humidity. Avoid exposing your dog to direct air conditioning or heating for long periods, and use soft, breathable bedding materials to minimize skin irritation caused by friction. All of these details can significantly reduce the likelihood of dry skin.
Humidifiers add water back into the air of your home by turning it into moisture, which can naturally soothe your dog’s skin. Providing a clean, comfortable environment for our dogs to rest in is also a sign of our love.
Probiotic supplementation
In recent years, scientific studies have found that gut health is closely linked to skin conditions. According to the Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, regular probiotic supplementation can help regulate the balance of intestinal flora, which in turn reduces the incidence of skin irritation and inflammation and builds an internal line of defence for skin health.
Regular Checkups
Finally, take your dog to the vet for regular skin checkups, especially if you notice that it is scratching and licking an area frequently. This can be an early sign of a skin problem. Diagnose and treat the problem in a timely manner to prevent minor issues from turning into significant annoyances.
How to Prevent dry skin in dogs?
The methods listed above for relieving dry skin in dogs can alleviate mild dry or itchy skin in dogs. Similarly, correctly providing your dog with nutritionally complete food, a comfortable environment, and proper washing can effectively prevent dry skin in dogs.
You can also supplement your dog with fatty acids, lecithin, probiotics and other nutritional supplements that are good for your dog’s skin by giving them pet supplements. These are very beneficial to your dog’s skin and can effectively minimize their skin problems and make their coat smoother and thicker.
Hsviko is the most potent pet supplement manufacturer in China. It provides customized and wholesale pet supplements for users all over the world, supports private label, OEM, and ODM services, and offers free samples!
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/short-coated-gray-dog-near-green-leafed-plants-ocZ-_Y7-Ptg
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